General Information

Umbrella tree is a fast-growing, leafy, semi-deciduous tree with branches that are rather horizontal and a crown that is flattened when young, but becoming more rounded with age. It usually grows from 10 - 30 metres tall with exceptional specimens to 45 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for 10 - 18 metres, 100 - 180cm in diameter, and is usually unbuttressed but with short, blunt root swellings[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

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A remarkably long lived tree for a pioneer species, attaining an age of over 150 years[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

Other Uses

Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.

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The heartwood is a bright yellow-green or green-brown, turning to a golden brown upon exposure; it is clearly demarcated from the wide band of nearly white sapwood. The texture is medium to coarse; the grain typically interlocked, producing a ribbon figure; there is no characteristic odour or taste when dry; pin knots are sometimes present, rather knotty near the core. The wood is light, soft and moderately strong; it is not very durable, the heartwood being readily attacked by decay fungi and termites. It dries fairly rapidly with some warp but no surface or end checking; logs may split full length, though, in felling and storage. It saws and machines very easily and works well with hand tools; it planes to a smooth finish if knives are kept sharp; it must be supported when drilling and mortising; it has good gluing and nailing characteristics; is difficult to finish because of high absorbency. The wood is valued as a softwood substitute; it is used for purposes such as light construction, boxes and crates, millwork, plywood or core stock[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

]. Because the seedlings quickly form a taproot, it is usually recommended to sow the seed in polybags[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

]. If sown in seedbeds, the seedlings need to be potted up as soon as they are large enough to handle[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

]. Young plants can normally be planted out into their permanent positions when about 2 - 4 months old[

A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.

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Seed storage behaviour is orthodox; viability can be maintained for 1 year at cool temperatures with dry seeds; viability is maintained for several years in hermetic storage at 3°c with 4-9% mc[